Torque converter having torsional vibration damping device

Abstract

A torque converter that is downsized in an axial direction utilizing existing space is provided. A pump impeller, a turbine runner, a lockup clutch, an elastic damper, and a planetary unit are held in a housing. A torsional vibration damping device is arranged concentrically with the lockup clutch. An input element is arranged concentrically with the lockup clutch while being connected to the lockup clutch and a drive member. An output element is connected to a driven member.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A torque converter, having a torsional vibration damping device comprising:
 a housing in which an internal space thereof is kept to a liquid-tight condition; 
 a pump impeller that creates a spiral flow of fluid; 
 a turbine runner that is rotated by the spiral flow of the fluid; 
 a lockup clutch that is engaged to transmit torque between the housing and the turbine runner; 
 an elastic damper that transmits the torque delivered from the lockup clutch to a drive member to a driven member through an elastic member; and 
 a planetary unit serving as the torsional vibration damping device, in which a first rotary element serves as an input element, a second rotary element serves as an output element, and a third rotary element is vibrated in a rotational direction by a pulsation of the torque transmitted between the first rotary element and the second rotary element, 
 wherein the pump impeller, the turbine runner, the lockup clutch, the elastic damper, and the planetary unit are held in the housing, 
 the torsional vibration damping device is arranged concentrically with the lockup clutch; 
 the input element is arranged concentrically with the lockup clutch while being connected to the lockup clutch and the drive member in a torque transmittable manner; and 
 the output element is connected to the driven member. 
 
     
     
       2. The torque converter having a torsional vibration damping device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the lockup clutch is situated in an inner circumferential side of the torsional vibration damping device. 
     
     
       3. The torque converter having a torsional vibration damping device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the lockup clutch is situated in an outer circumferential side of the torsional vibration damping device. 
     
     
       4. The torque converter having a torsional vibration damping device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the elastic damper is situated between the torsional vibration damping device and the turbine runner in the axial direction. 
     
     
       5. The torque converter having a torsional vibration damping device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the lockup clutch includes a plurality of first friction plates connected to the housing, a plurality of second friction plates connected to the turbine runner, and an actuator that engages the first friction plates with the second friction plates to enable torque transmission between the housing and the turbine runner. 
     
     
       6. The torque converter having a torsional vibration damping device as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein the actuator is situated in tandem with the first friction plates and the second friction plates in the axial direction. 
     
     
       7. The torque converter having a torsional vibration damping device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein:
 the planetary unit includes a single-pinion planetary gear unit comprising a sun gear, a ring gear arrange concentrically with the sun gear, a plurality of first pinion gears interposed between the sun gear and the ring gear, and a carrier supporting the first pinion gears, 
 the ring gear serves as any one of the input element and the output element, 
 any one of the sun gear and the carrier serves as the other of the input element and the output element, and 
 the other of the sun gear and the carrier is vibrated in a rotational direction by a pulsation of the torque transmitted between the input element and the output element. 
 
     
     
       8. The torque converter having a torsional vibration damping device as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein:
 the ring gear serves as the output element, 
 the sun gear serves as the input element, 
 the carrier is vibrated in the rotational direction by a pulsation of the torque transmitted between the sun gear and the ring gear, and 
 the carrier includes a plurality of pairs of first supporting members individually holding the first pinion gear, and a plurality of masses interposed between the sun gear and the ring gear to individually connect the adjacent pairs of first supporting members. 
 
     
     
       9. The torque converter having a torsional vibration damping device as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein:
 the ring gear serves as the input element, 
 the sun gear serves as the output element, 
 the carrier is vibrated in the rotational direction by a pulsation of the torque transmitted between the sun gear and the ring gear, and 
 the carrier includes a plurality of pairs of first supporting members individually holding the first pinion gear, and a plurality of masses interposed between the sun gear and the ring gear to individually connect the adjacent pairs of first supporting members. 
 
     
     
       10. The torque converter having a torsional vibration damping device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein:
 the planetary unit includes a double-pinion planetary gear unit comprising a sun gear, a ring gear arrange concentrically with the sun gear, a plurality of first pinion gears meshing with the sun gear, a plurality of second pinion gears interposed between the first pinion gears and the ring gear, and a carrier supporting the first pinion gears and the second pinion gears, 
 any one of the sun gear and the ring gear serves as the input element, 
 the other of the sun gear and the ring gear serves as the output element, and 
 the carrier is vibrated in a rotational direction by a pulsation of the torque transmitted between the input element and the output element. 
 
     
     
       11. The torque converter having a torsional vibration damping device as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein the carrier includes a plurality of pairs of second supporting members individually holding the first pinion gear and the second pinion gears, and a plurality of masses interposed between the sun gear and the ring gear to individually connect the adjacent pairs of second supporting members. 
     
     
       12. A torque converter, having a torsional vibration damping device comprising:
 a housing in which an internal space thereof is kept to a liquid-tight condition; 
 a pump impeller that creates a spiral flow of fluid; 
 a turbine runner that is rotated by the spiral flow of the fluid; 
 a lockup clutch that is engaged to transmit torque between the housing and the turbine runner; 
 an elastic damper that transmits the torque delivered from the lockup clutch to a drive member to a driven member through an elastic member; and 
 a planetary unit serving as the torsional vibration damping device, in which a first rotary element serves as an input element, a second rotary element serves as an output element, and a third rotary element is vibrated in a rotational direction by a pulsation of the torque transmitted between the first rotary element and the second rotary element, 
 wherein the pump impeller, the turbine runner, the lockup clutch, the elastic damper, and the planetary unit are held in the housing, 
 the torsional vibration damping device is arranged concentrically with the lockup clutch; 
 the lockup clutch is connected to the input element through a connection member in a torque transmittable manner between the housing and the torsional vibration damping device in an axial direction; and 
 the output element is connected to the driven member in a torque transmittable manner. 
 
     
     
       13. The torque converter having a torsional vibration damping device as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein the lockup clutch is situated in an inner circumferential side of the torsional vibration damping device. 
     
     
       14. The torque converter having a torsional vibration damping device as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein the elastic damper is situated between the torsional vibration damping device and the turbine runner in the axial direction. 
     
     
       15. The torque converter having a torsional vibration damping device as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein the lockup clutch includes a plurality of first friction plates connected to the housing, a plurality of second friction plates connected to the turbine runner, and an actuator that engages the first friction plates with the second friction plates to enable torque transmission between the housing and the turbine runner. 
     
     
       16. The torque converter having a torsional vibration damping device as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein the actuator is situated in tandem with the first friction plates and the second friction plates in the axial direction. 
     
     
       17. The torque converter having a torsional vibration damping device as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein:
 the planetary unit includes a single-pinion planetary gear unit comprising a sun gear, a ring gear arrange concentrically with the sun gear, a plurality of first pinion gears interposed between the sun gear and the ring gear, and a carrier supporting the first pinion gears, 
 the ring gear serves as any one of the input element and the output element, 
 any one of the sun gear and the carrier serves as the other of the input element and the output element, and 
 the other of the sun gear and the carrier is vibrated in a rotational direction by a pulsation of the torque transmitted between the input element and the output element. 
 
     
     
       18. The torque converter having a torsional vibration damping device as claimed in  claim 17 , wherein:
 the ring gear serves as the output element, 
 the sun gear serves as the input element, 
 the carrier is vibrated in the rotational direction by a pulsation of the torque transmitted between the sun gear and the ring gear, and 
 the carrier includes a plurality of pairs of first supporting members individually holding the first pinion gear, and a plurality of masses interposed between the sun gear and the ring gear to individually connect the adjacent pairs of first supporting members. 
 
     
     
       19. The torque converter having a torsional vibration damping device as claimed in  claim 17 , wherein:
 the ring gear serves as the input element, 
 the sun gear serves as the output element, 
 the carrier is vibrated in the rotational direction by a pulsation of the torque transmitted between the sun gear and the ring gear, and 
 the carrier includes a plurality of pairs of first supporting members individually holding the first pinion gear, and a plurality of masses interposed between the sun gear and the ring gear to individually connect the adjacent pairs of first supporting members. 
 
     
     
       20. The torque converter having a torsional vibration damping device as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein:
 the planetary unit includes a double-pinion planetary gear unit comprising a sun gear, a ring gear arrange concentrically with the sun gear, a plurality of first pinion gears meshing with the sun gear, a plurality of second pinion gears interposed between the first pinion gears and the ring gear, and a carrier supporting the first pinion gears and the second pinion gears, 
 any one of the sun gear and the ring gear serves as the input element, 
 the other of the sun gear and the ring gear serves as the output element, and 
 the carrier is vibrated in a rotational direction by a pulsation of the torque transmitted between the input element and the output element. 
 
     
     
       21. The torque converter having a torsional vibration damping device as claimed in  claim 20 , wherein the carrier includes a plurality of pairs of second supporting members individually holding the first pinion gear and the second pinion gears, and a plurality of masses interposed between the sun gear and the ring gear to individually connect the adjacent pairs of second supporting members.